Glossary

Viking

The Vikings were a people from Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) who first raided and then settled in Britain and Ireland in the 8th-10th centuries AD.

In the north-east they began by raiding the wealthy monasteries, such as Lindisfarne, but eventually settled permanently, particularly in the area between the Tees and the Tyne. Many placenames today in this area are of Viking origin and their stone carvings can be seen in many parish churches. More details about the Vikings in this region can be found in our overview of the early medieval period.